User:DCDuring/Rhetorical devices


 * 1) accismus     Coyness: a form of irony in which a person feigns a lack of interest in something that he or she actually desires.
 * 2) anadiplosis      Repetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the next.
 * 3) aposiopesis      An unfinished thought or broken sentence.
 * 4) bdelygmia      A litany of abuse--a series of critical epithets, descriptions, or attributes.
 * 5) boosting      An adverbial construction used to support a claim or express a viewpoint more assertively and convincingly.
 * 6) chleuasmos      A sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer.
 * 7) dehortatio      Dissuasive advice given with authority.
 * 8) diatyposis      Recommending useful precepts or advice to someone else.
 * 9) epexegesis      Adding words or phrases to further clarify or specify a statement already made.
 * 10) epimone       Frequent repetition of a phrase or question; dwelling on a point.
 * 11) epizeuxis       Repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis (usually with no words in between).
 * 12) hypocrisis      Exaggerating the gestures or speech habits of another in order to mock him.
 * 13) paronomasia      Punning, playing with words.
 * 14) prolepsis      Figurative device by which a future event is presumed to have already occurred.
 * 15) skotison      Intentionally obscure speech or writing, designed to confuse an audience rather than clarify an issue.
 * 16) syllepsis      A kind of ellipsis in which one word (usually a verb) is understood differently in relation to two or more other words.
 * 17) synathroesmus       The piling up of adjectives, often in the spirit of invective.
 * 18) tapinosis      Name calling: undignified language that debases a person or thing.
 * 19) tetracolon, tetracolon climax      A series of four members.
 * 20) zeugma      Use of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one.

Wikipedia

 * w:Category:Rhetorical techniques
 * w:Category:Figures of speech
 * Trope (linguistics)
 * Trope (literature)
 * Rhetoric
 * Appendix:Glossary of rhetoric

A
acrostic
 * abating/ (attest?) - see anesis
 * abbaser/ R (attest?) - see tapinosis
 * abecedarian/ R + ex
 * abcisio/ R:la (ML.) - see abscission
 * abscission/ R + ex
 * ablatio/ (la) - see aphaeresis, apheresis
 * X figure of abode (attest?) - see commoratio, epimone
 * abominatio/ R - See bdelygmia, apodioxis
 * abuse/ - See abusio, catachresis
 * abusio/ R - See catachresis
 * abusion/ R - See catachresis
 * acoloutha/ - "opposite" of anacoloutha, neither in use, AFAICT (Substitition}
 * accismus/accismus R ex
 * accumulatio/accumulatio R
 * accusatio adversa - See anticategoria
 * accusatio R - See categoria, la
 * acervatio R - used as a hypernym for asyndeton and polysyndeton
 * acyrologia R See malapropism (Substitition)
 * acyron - A type of error
 * ad baculum/ad baculum argument
 * ad captandum/ad captandum argument
 * ad hominem/ad hominem argument
 * ad populum/ad populum argument
 * ad potentiam/ad potentiam argument
 * ad verecundiam/ad verecundiam argument
 * adage - see proverb
 * adagium la - See adage
 * addubitatio - See aporia
 * adhortatio - exhortation
 * adianoeta R ex - like a double entendre or perhaps "Rick, I'd like you to meet Colonel Strasser. He's one of the officers who has given the Third Reich the reputation it has.". That is, an expression understood one way by part of the audience and in an opposing way by another part.
 * adjectio - See anaphora
 * adjournment R - See ampliatio
 * adjudicatio - See epicrisis
 * adjunct R - See symploce
 * adjunctio - See epizeugma
 * admonitio - See paraenesis
 * adnexio - See zeugma
 * adnominatio - See agnomination
 * adynata pl of adynaton
 * adynaton/adynatonR ex
 * aeschrologia - See cacemphaton
 * aetiologia R ex - Presenting a cause for a statement.
 * affirmatio R ex Making a statement as if it were in response to a question or were in dispute.
 * affirmation - affirmatio, cataphasis
 * aganactesis - An indignant exclamation
 * agnominatio - see agnomination
 * agnomination R
 * aischrologia - See cacemphaton
 * allegory/allegory Rcat
 * alleotheta - See enallage Substitution of one case, gender, mood, number, tense, or person for another (Substitition)
 * alliteration/alliteration Pcat
 * allusion/allusion
 * amara irrisio - See sarcasmus
 * ambage, figure of - See circumlocution
 * ambiguitas - See amphibologia
 * ambiguity/ambiguity
 * ambiguous - See amphibologia
 * amphibologia R ex ambiguity
 * ampliatio R ex
 * anacephalaeosis A recapitulation of the facts.
 * anacoenosis Asking the opinion or judgment of the judges or audience, usually implying their common interest with the speaker in the matter.
 * anacoloutha - See acoloutha Not in use AFAICT
 * anacoluthon R ex (Substitition)
 * anadiplosis/anadiplosis R ex
 * anamnesis/anamnesis R ex
 * anangeon/anangeon Arguing on the basis of inevitability or necessity.
 * anaphora/anaphora R ex
 * anapodoton R ex
 * anaptyxis/anaptyxis
 * anastrophe/anastrophe R needs ex
 * anemographia Creating an illusion of reality through description of the wind
 * anesis R ex
 * antanaclasis/antanaclasis R ex
 * antanagoge/antanagoge Putting a positive spin on something that is nevertheless acknowledged to be negative or difficult.
 * antenantiosis - See litotes
 * anthimeria R needs ex, but see antimeria (Substitition)
 * anthropopatheia Ascribing human attributes to God.
 * anthypophora R argument
 * anticategoria - See categoria
 * anticipation R - see prolepsis
 * antilogy R internal contradiction
 * antimeria R ex (Substitition)
 * antimetabole/antimetabole R ex
 * antimetathesis Inversion of the members of an antithesis.
 * antipersonification - See antiprosopopoeia
 * antiphrasis/antiphrasis R needs ex
 * antiprosopopoeia
 * antiptosis A type of enallage in which one grammatical case is substituted for another (Substitition)
 * antirrhesis Rejecting reprehensively the opinion or authority of someone.
 * antisagoge
 * Making a concession before making one's point (=paromologia).
 * Using a hypothetical situation or a precept to illustrate antithetical alternative consequences, typically promises of reward and punishment.
 * antistasis R ex
 * antisthecon Substitution of one sound, syllable, or letter for another within a word. A kind of metaplasm.
 * antistrophe R ex, needs ex
 * antithesis//antithesis R
 * antitheton A proof or composition constructed of contraries.
 * antonomasia/antonomasia R (Substitition)
 * apagoresis A statement designed to inhibit someone from doing something.
 * aphaeresis P - see apheresis
 * apheresis/apheresis (linguistics)
 * aphesis/aphesis
 * aphorismus/aphorismus Calling into question the proper use or application of a word. "Can he be called a man?"
 * apocarteresis Casting of all hope away from one thing and placing it on another source altogether.
 * apocope//apocope P
 * apodeictic True as a matter of logic.
 * apodioxis Rejecting of someone or something (such as the adversary's argument) as being impertinent, needless, absurd, false, or wicked.
 * apodixis Proving a statement by referring to common knowledge or general experience.
 * apologue/apologue R
 * apophasis/apophasis R
 * apophthegm - See apothegm
 * apoplanesis Promising to address the issue but effectively dodging it through a digression.
 * aporia/aporia R
 * aposiopesis/aposiopesis R
 * apostrophe/apostrophe (figure of speech) R
 * apothegm - see proverb
 * apparent refusal - See accismus
 * appositio R
 * apposition/apposition - see appositio
 * ara - See deprecatio ἀρά
 * articulus - See asyndeton. Also brachylogia]]
 * aschematismus - See aschematiston
 * aschematiston The use of plain, unadorned or unornamented language. Or, the unskilled use of figurative language. A vice.
 * asphalia Offering oneself as a guarantee, usually for another.
 * assonance/assonance P
 * assumptio R
 * assumption R See assumptio
 * asteismus Polite or genteel mockery. More specifically, a figure of reply in which the answerer catches a certain word and throws it back to the first speaker with an unexpected twist.
 * astrothesia A vivid description of stars. One type of enargia.
 * asyndeton/asyndeton R
 * auxesis/auxesis (figure of speech) R
 * avancer, the fr - See auxesis
 * aversio R - See apostrophe

B

 * barbarism A type of error. The use of nonstandard or foreign speech (see cacozelia); the use of a word awkwardly forced into a poem's meter; or unconventional pronunciation
 * battologia - See battology a vice.
 * bdelygmia R
 * benedictio - blessing
 * bomphiologia/bomphiologia Exaggeration done in a self-aggrandizing manner, as a braggart
 * brachiepia See asyndeton.
 * brachylogia brachiologia, brachiologa, articulus, the cutted comma, brachyology/brachyology. The absence of conjunctions between single words.
 * broad floute the - See antiphrasis

C

 * cacemphaton/(No WP article) An expression that is deliberately either foul (such as crude language) or ill-sounding (such as from excessive alliteration).
 * cacophonia/Phonaesthetics - See cacemphaton
 * cacosyntheton/(deleted at WP) R mistake The ill placing of words, as when an adjective improperly follows a noun or when there is any other unpleasing order of words.
 * cacozelia/(No WP article) R bad style
 * casus pro casu - See antiptosis
 * catachresis/catachresis R mistake
 * catacosmesis Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order of time.
 * cataphasis - See affirmation A kind of paralipsis in which one explicitly affirms the negative qualities that one then passes over.
 * cataphora/cataphora
 * cataplexis Threatening or prophesying payback for ill doing.
 * categoria R - See accusatio Opening the secret wickedness of one's adversary before his face.
 * cause shown - See aetiologia
 * change of name - See antonomasia
 * characterismus The description of a person's character. If this is restricted to the body, this is effictio; if restricted to a person's habits, this is ethopoeia. Characterismus is a kind of enargia (principally when describing physical attributes).
 * charientismus Mollifying harsh words by answering them with a smooth and appeasing mock.
 * chiasmus/chiasmus R ex
 * chorographia The description of a particular nation
 * chreia 1. The progymnasmata exercise. 2. Employing an anecdote which relates a saying or deed of someone well known
 * chronographia Vivid representation of a certain historical or recurring time (such as a season) to create an illusion of reality. A kind of enargia.
 * circumlocutio/Circumlocution - See circumitio, periphrasis (perifrasis) the figure of ambage
 * civille jest the - See asteismus
 * clause - See colon or membrum
 * climax/climax (figure of speech) Generally, the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance, often in parallel structure. More specifically, climax is the repetition of the last word of one clause or sentence at the beginning of the next, through several clauses or sentences (= anadiplosis)
 * coenotes Repetition of two different phrases: one at the beginning and the other at the end of successive paragraphs. Composed of anaphora and epistrophe, coenotes is simply a more specific kind of symploce (the repetition of phrases, not merely words).
 * colon clause - See membrum
 * combined repetition - See coenotes
 * comma - See articulus
 * common cause - See anacoenosis
 * commoratio - see epimone
 * communicatio inclusion of one's audience overtly in a discourse
 * commutatio - See antimetabole
 * comparatio comparision. A hypernym for types, such as metaphor, simile, allegory.
 * compensatio - See antanagoge
 * complexio la - See anacephalaeosis, See symploce, See coenotes
 * compositum ex contrariis - See antitheton
 * comprobatio - Approving and commending a virtue, especially in the hearers
 * conceit/conceit R
 * concessio Conceding an argument, either jestingly and contemptuously, or to prove a more important point. A synonym for paromologia
 * conciliatio - See comprobatio
 * conclusio - See enthymeme
 * condescensio - See anthropopatheia
 * condescension - See anthropopatheia
 * conduplicatio The repetition of a word or words. A general term for repetition sometimes carrying the more specific meaning of repetition of words in adjacent phrases or clauses. Sometimes used to name either ploce or epizeuxis.
 * congeries Piling up words of differing meaning but for a similar emotional effect.
 * conjunctio - See synzeugma
 * consonance P
 * contencion - See antitheton
 * contentio - See antithesis, See antitheton
 * continued metaphor - See allegory
 * contractio See systole
 * contrarium Juxtaposing two opposing statements (=antithesis) in such a way as to prove the one from the other. More generally, a composition of opposites (=antitheton).
 * contrast R - See antithesis
 * conversio la - See epistrophe
 * correctio R ex
 * counterchange, the - See antimetabole
 * counterfait in personation - See prosopographia
 * counterfait place - See topographia
 * counterfeit time, the - See chronographia
 * counter turne - See antistrophe
 * cutted comma the - See brachylogi
 * cutting from the end - See apocope

D

 * deesis An adjuration or calling to witness; or, the vehement expression of desire put in terms of "for someone's sake" or "for God's sake."
 * dehortatio dissuasion
 * dendrographia Creating an illusion of reality through vivid description of a tree.
 * deprecatio la deprecation, imprecation A praying against evil, against others, or oneself; a prayer for the removal of some evil.
 * descriptio la Although descriptio is synonymous with enargia, the Ad Herennium author further specifies that it contains an exposition of the consequences of an act.
 * diacope/diacope Repetition of a word with one or more between, usually to express deep feeling.
 * diaeresis/diaeresis (prosody) P
 * dialogismus Speaking as someone else, either to bring in others' points of view into one's own speech, or to conduct a pseudo-dialog through taking up an opposing position with oneself sermonatio
 * dialysis R 1. To spell out alternatives, or to present either-or arguments that lead to a conclusion. 2. A synonym for asyndeton.
 * dialyton - See asyndeton
 * dianoea animated dialogue The use of animated questions and answers in developing an argument (sometimes simply the equivalent of anthypophora).
 * diaphora Repetition of a common name so as to perform two logical functions: to designate an individual and to signify the qualities connoted by that individual's name or title. "Let Reagan be Reagan"
 * diaporesis - See aporia
 * diaskeue Graphic peristasis (description of circumstances) intended to arouse the emotions.
 * diastole P To lengthen a vowel or syllable beyond its typical length.
 * diasyrmus elevatio, irrisio, vexatio Rejecting an argument through ridiculous comparison
 * diazeugma The figure by which a single subject governs several verbs or verbal constructions (usually arranged in parallel fashion and expressing a similar idea)
 * dicaeologia Admitting what's charged against one, but excusing it by necessity.
 * dicolon P
 * digressio A departure from logical progression in a speech.
 * dilemma R Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives. \
 * dirimens copulatio R A figure by which one balances one statement with a contrary, qualifying statement (sometimes conveyed by "not only ... but also" clauses).
 * dissoi logoi/dissoi logoi exercise of taking opposing side.
 * distinctio la differentiation Eliminating ambiguity surrounding a word by explicitly specifying each of its distinct meanings.
 * distributio la 1. Assigning roles among or specifying the duties of a list of people, sometimes accompanied by a conclusion. 2. Sometimes this term is simply a synonym for diaeresis or merismus, which are more general figures involving division.
 * doubtfull, the - See aporia

E

 * ecphonesis An emotional exclamation.
 * ekphrasis/ecphrasis R 1. Vivid description; using details to place an object, person, or event before the listeners' eyes (=hypotyposis or evidentia). See also enargia. 2. The Greek term for the progymnasmata exercise, description. 3. Ecphrasis has another more restricted definition: the literary description of a work of art. Philostratus Lemnius helped to fix this more restricted sense of this term in the second century in his Imagines.
 * ecthlipsis The omission or elision of letters or syllables (often the consonant "m" and the vowel that precedes it) for the sake of poetical meter. A kind of metaplasm specific to Latin.
 * effictio A verbal depiction of someone's body, often from head to toe.
 * elenchus R A logical refutation
 * ellipsis R, P
 * emphasis Giving prominence to a quality or trait by conceiving it as constituting the very substance in which it inheres.
 * enallage/enallage R ex The substitution of grammatically different but semantically equivalent constructions. (Substitition)
 * enantiosis Using opposing or contrary descriptions together, typically in a somewhat paradoxical manner.
 * enargia Generic name for a group of figures aiming at vivid, lively description.
 * encomium R Generally, encomium means the praise of a person or thing. While keeping this general meaning, "encomium" also names several distinct aspects of rhetoric: 1. A general category of oratory (nearly synonymous with "epideictic") 2. A method within rhetorical pedagogy (one of the "progymnasmata": Encomium) 3. A figure of speech. As a figure, "encomium" means praising a person or thing, but occuring on a smaller scale than an entire speech.
 * energia la A general term referring to the "energy" or vigor of a expression.
 * enigma Obscuring one's meaning by presenting it within a riddle or by means of metaphors that purposefully challenge the reader or hearer to understand.
 * ennoia A kind of purposeful holding back of information that nevertheless hints at what is meant. A kind of circuitous speaking.
 * enthymeme/enthymeme The informal method of reasoning typical of rhetorical discourse. The enthymeme is sometimes defined as a "truncated syllogism" since either the major or minor premise found in that more formal method of reasoning is left implied. The enthymeme typically occurs as a conclusion coupled with a reason. When several enthymemes are linked together, this becomes sorites.
 * enumeratio/enumeratio 1. A synonym for anacephalaeosis. 2. Dividing a subject into its adjuncts, a cause into its effects, or an antecedent into its consequents. 3. A synonym for expeditio.
 * epanalepsis/epanalepsis Repetition of the same word or clause after intervening matter. More strictly, repetition at the end of a line, phrase, or clause of the word or words that occurred at the beginning of the same line, phrase, or clause.
 * epanodos R 1. Repeating the main terms of an argument in the course of presenting it. 2. Returning to the main theme after a digression 3. Returning to and providing additional detail for items mentioned previously (often using parallelism).
 * epanorthosis/Epanorthosis R Amending a first thought by altering it to make it stronger or more vehement (=metanoeia).
 * epenthesis/Epenthesis P
 * epergesis Interposing an apposition, often in order to clarify what has just been stated.
 * epexegesis R
 * epicrisis Rcat When a speaker quotes a certain passage and makes comment upon it.
 * epilogus Providing an inference of what is likely to follow.
 * epimone Persistent repetition of the same plea in much the same words.
 * epiphonema R An epigrammatic summary which gathers into a pithy sentence what has preceeded. A striking, summarizing reflection.
 * epiplexis Asking questions in order to chide, to express grief, or to inveigh. A kind of rhetorical question.
 * epistrophe/epistrophe R Ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word or words.
 * epitasis R The addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification,
 * epitheton Attributing to a person or thing a quality or description—sometimes by the simple addition of a descriptive adjective; sometimes through a descriptive or metaphorical apposition.
 * episynaloephe Blending two syllables together into one (rather than simply omitting one of two neighboring vowels [=synaloepha]). The opposite of diaeresis. A kind of metaplasm.
 * epitrochasmus To touch rapidly on one point and then another.
 * epitrope A figure in which one turns things over to one's hearers, either pathetically, ironically, or in such a way as to suggest a proof of something without having to state it. Epitrope often takes the form of granting permission (hence its Latin name, permissio), submitting something for consideration, or simply referring to the abilities of the audience to supply the meaning that the speaker passes over (hence Puttenham's term, figure of reference). Epitrope can be either biting in its irony, or flattering in its deference.
 * epizeugma Placing the verb that holds together the entire sentence (made up of multiple parts that depend upon that verb) either at the very beginning or the very ending of that sentence.
 * epizeuxis/epizeuxis R
 * erotema The rhetorical question. To affirm or deny a point strongly by asking it as a question.
 * ethopoeia The description and portrayal of a character (natural propensities, manners and affections, etc.). A kind of enargia. See the progymnasmata exercise impersonation.
 * ethos/ethos
 * eucharistia Giving thanks for a benefit received, sometimes adding one's inability to repay.
 * euche A vow to keep a promise.
 * eulogia Pronouncing a blessing for the goodness in a person.
 * euphemismus/Euphemism Substituting a more favorable for a pejorative or socially delicate term. (Substitition)
 * eustathia Promising constancy in purpose and affection.
 * eutrepismus ordinatio Numbering and ordering the parts under consideration.
 * example Amplifying a point by providing a true or feigned example.
 * excitatio To excite an audience, especially out of a stupor or boredom. Kinds of excitatio include an acclamatio, an invocation, a digression affirming, denying, or prohibiting something, or a simple admonishment not to sleep.
 * exclamatio Most often exclamatio is simply the Latin term for ecphonesis (an emotional exclamation); however, it has also been used (as in the Ad Herennium) to indicate apostrophe.
 * excursus Rcat A digression.
 * exergasia/exergasia Repetition of the same idea, changing either its words, its delivery, or the general treatment it is given. A method for amplification, variation, and explanation. As such, exergasia compares to the progymnasmata exercises.
 * exouthenismos An expression of contempt.
 * expeditio la After enumerating all possibilities by which something could have occurred, the speaker eliminates all but one (=apophasis). Although the Ad Herennium author lists expeditio as a figure, it is more properly considered a method of argument (sometimes known as the "Method of Residues" when employed in refutation.)
 * expolitio - See exergasia
 * exuscitatio Stirring others by one's own vehement feeling (sometimes by means of a rhetorical question, and often for the sake of exciting anger).

F

 * frequentatio - See accumulatio. Bringing together various points made throughout a speech and presenting them again in a forceful, climactic way. A blend of summary and climax.

G

 * geographia Vivid representation of the earth to create an illusion of reality. enargia
 * gnome - see proverb
 * graecismus R

H

 * hendiadys/hendiadys R
 * hendiatris/hendiatris
 * homeoptoton See homoioptoton.
 * heterogenium Avoiding an issue by changing the subject to something different. Sometimes considered a vice.
 * homiologia Tedious and inane repetition.
 * homoeoprophoron Repetition of the same consonant (especially the initial consonant) in neighboring words.
 * homoeosis Beautifying, enforcing and enlarging language through comparison. Bede identifies three figures that peform this: icon, parabola, and paradigma.
 * homoioptoton/homeoptoton The repetition of similar case endings in adjacent words or in words in parallel position.
 * homoioteleuton/homeoteleuton Similarity of endings of adjacent or parallel words.
 * horismus Providing a clear, brief definition, especially by explaining differences between associated terms.
 * hydrographia Creating an illusion of reality through vivid description of water. A type of enargia.
 * hypallage/hypallage R 1. Shifting the application of words. Mixing the order of which words should correspond with which others. 2. Also, sometimes, a synonym for metonymy (see Quintilian).
 * hyperbaton/hyperbaton R 1. An inversion of normal word order. A generic term for a variety of figures involving transposition (see below), it is sometimes synonymous with anastrophe. 2. Adding a word or thought to a sentence that is already semantically complete, thus drawing emphasis to the addition.
 * hyperbole/hyperbole Rcat Rhetorical exaggeration. Hyperbole is often accomplished via comparisons, similes, and metaphors.
 * hypocatastasis/hypocatastasis implied simile or metaphor
 * hypophora/hypophora R See anthypophora
 * hypotyposis Synonym for enargia. Lively description of an action, event, person, condition, passion, etc. used for creating the illusion of reality
 * hypozeugma Placing last, in a construction containing several words or phrases of equal value, the word or words on which all of them depend.
 * hypozeuxis Opposite of zeugma. Every clause has its own verb.
 * hysterologia A form of hyperbaton or parenthesis in which one interposes a phrase between a preposition and its object.
 * hysteron proteron/hysteron proteron R

I

 * icon 1. A figure which paints the likeness of a person by imagery. 2. A figure of comparison in which a person is held up against the explicit image of another.
 * indignatio la - See aganactesis
 * inopinatum The expression of one's inability to believe or conceive of something; a type of faux wondering). As such, this kind of paradox is much like aporia and functions much like a rhetorical question or erotema.
 * insinuatio la A method for securing good will within the exordium.
 * interrogatio la 1. erotema (the rhetorical question). In the Ad Herennium, however, interrogatio is described as employing a question as a way of confirming or reinforcing the argument one has just made.
 * inter se pugnantia Using direct address to reprove someone before an audience, pointing out the contradictions in that person's character, often between what a person does and says.
 * intimation Hinting at a meaning but not stating it explicitly
 * irony Rcat Speaking in such a way as to imply the contrary of what one says, often for the purpose of derision, mockery, or jest.
 * isocolon/isocolon R

L

 * litotes/litotes R

M

 * macrologia macrology longwindedness. Using more words than are necessary in an attempt to appear eloquent.
 * martyria R
 * maxim CatR
 * medela When you can't deny or defend friends' faults and seek to heal them with good words.
 * meiosis/meiosis (figure of speech) R
 * membrum la - See clause
 * mempsis Expressing complaint and seeking help.
 * merismus R The dividing of a whole into its parts.
 * mesarchia The repetition of the same word or words at the beginning and middle of successive sentences.
 * mesodiplosis Repetition of the same word or words in the middle of successive sentences.
 * mesozeugma A zeugma in which one places a common verb for many subjects in the middle of a construction.
 * metabasis R A transitional statement in which one explains what has been and what will be said.
 * metalepsis/metalepsis R ex (Substitition)
 * metallage When a word or phrase is treated as an object within another expression.
 * metaphor/metaphor Rcat
 * metaplasm/metaplasm R
 * metastasis R Denying and turning back on your adversaries arguments used against you.
 * metathesis P???
 * metonymy/metonymy R ex Reference to something or someone by naming one of its attributes.
 * mimesis R 1. Greek name for the rhetorical pedagogy known as imitation. 2. The imitation of another's gestures, pronunciation, or utterance.
 * mycterismus A mock given with an accompanying gesture, such as a scornful countenance.

N

 * noema (attest? this sense)

O

 * occupatio/occupatio
 * oeonismus - See optatio
 * ominatio A prophecy of evil.
 * onedismus Reproaching someone for being impious or ungrateful.
 * onomatopoeia R
 * optatio Expressing a wish, often ardently.
 * orcos R
 * oxymoron/oxymoron R

P

 * paenismus Expressing joy for blessings obtained or an evil avoided.
 * palilogia la - See palilogy
 * palilogy/palilogy R
 * parabola The explicit drawing of a parallel between two essentially dissimilar things, especially with a moral or didactic purpose. A parable. Parabola can be considered a type of metaphor or simile, or allegory (within its more constrained meaning). Bede refers to this figure, along with paradigma and icon, as kinds of homoeosis.
 * parachesis/parachesis P
 * paradiastole/paradiastole R
 * paradiegesis An introductory narrative (often a digression) used to open a speech.
 * paradigma An argument from example whose purpose is to exhort or dissuade.
 * paradox R
 * paraenesis R
 * paragoge P
 * paralipsis R
 * parallelism R
 * paramythia An expression of consolation and encouragement.
 * paraprosdokian/paraprosdokian
 * parasyntheton/parasyntheton word formed by affixation on compound word
 * parathesis - See parenthesis
 * parecbasis A digression. More specifically, a digression that often comes following the narratio and has some bearing on the case, although it appears to be a departure from the logical order.
 * paregmenon R
 * parelcon 1. The use of redundant or superfluous terms. Often the use of two words in lieu of one. 2. A synonym for paragoge.
 * parembole R
 * parenthesis R
 * pareuresis To put forward a convincing excuse.
 * paroemia - see proverb
 * paroemion Alliteration taken to an extreme—every word in a sentence begins with the same consonant.
 * paromoiosis/paromoiosis Parallelism of sound between the words of adjacent clauses whose lengths are equal or approximate to one another.
 * paromologia R
 * paronomasia R
 * parrhesia R
 * pathopoeia R A general term for speech that moves hearers emotionally, especially as the speaker attempts to elicit an emotional response by way of demonstrating his/her own feelings (exuscitatio).
 * perclusio A threat against someone, or something.
 * pericope/pericope R
 * periergia Overuse of words or figures of speech. As such, it may simply be considered synonymous with macrologia. However, as Puttenham's term suggests, periergia may differ from simple superfluity in that the language appears over-labored.
 * period R The periodic sentence, characterized by the suspension of the completion of sense until its end. This has been more possible and favored in Greek and Latin, languages already favoring the end position for the verb, but has been approximated in uninflected languages such as English.
 * periphrasis R The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a species of circumlocution); or, conversely, the use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it. (Substitition)
 * perissologia/perissologia it In general, the fault of wordiness. More specifically, periphrasis, circumlocution, synonymia, accumulatio, or amplification carried to a fault by length or overelaborateness.
 * peristasis A description of attendant circumstances: time, place, occasion, personal characteristics, background, education, habits, etc.
 * permutatio la
 * personification/personification R Reference to abstractions or inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities. The English term for prosopopeia or ethopoeia.
 * philophronesis The pacification of an adversary by use of mild speech or promises.
 * pleonasm R
 * ploce/ploce (figure of speech) R The repetition of a single word for rhetorical emphasis. Ploce is a general term and has sometimes been used in place of more specific terms such as polyptoton (when the repetition involves a change in the form of the word) or antanaclasis (when the repetition involves a change in meaning).
 * polyptoton/polyptoton R Repeating a word, but in a different form. Using a cognate of a given word in close proximity.
 * polysyndeton R
 * praeteritio/praeteritio see apophasis.
 * pragmatographia The description of an action (such as a battle, a feast, a marriage, a burial, etc.). A kind of enargia. This figure is frequently used in drama for exposition or to report what has happened offstage.
 * procatalepsis R
 * proclees Challenging one's adversary.
 * prodiorthosis A statement intended to prepare one's audience for something shocking or offensive. An extreme example of protherapeia.
 * proecthesis When, in conclusion, a justifying reason is provided.
 * prolepsis R
 * prosapodosis Providing a reason for each division of a statement, the reasons usually following the statement in parallel fashion.
 * proslepsis R
 * prosonomasia - See paronomasia
 * prosopographia The vivid description of someone's face or character. A kind of enargia. Also, the description of feigned or imaginary characters, such as devils or harpies.
 * prosopopoeia R
 * prosphonesis - See apostrophe
 * prosthesis P
 * protherapeia Preparing one's audience for what one is about to say through conciliating words. If what is to come will be shocking, the figure is called prodiorthosis.
 * prothesis P
 * protrope A call to action, often by using threats or promises.
 * proverb OK
 * prozeugma A series of clauses in which the verb employed in the first is ellided (and thus implied) in the others.
 * pysma The asking of multiple questions successively (which would together require a complex reply). A rhetorical use of the question.

R

 * ratiocinatio R
 * repetitio R - see epanalepsis, anaphora
 * repotia 1. The repetition of a phrase with slight differences in style, diction, tone, etc. 2. A discourse celebrating a wedding feast.
 * restrictio Making an exception to a previously made statement. Restricting or limiting what has already been said.
 * rhetorical question Rcat

S

 * sarcasmus Use of mockery, verbal taunts, or bitter irony.
 * scesis onomaton 1. A sentence constructed only of nouns and adjectives (typically in a regular pattern). 2. A series of successive, synonymous expressions.
 * schematismus Concealing a meaning by using figurative language, either out of necessity or for humor's sake.
 * scheme R
 * scurra - See cacemphaton
 * skotison Purposeful obscurity.
 * sententia la
 * sermocinatio la
 * simile Rcat
 * solecismus mistake. An element of speech or writing that is incorrect grammatically.
 * soraismus R
 * sorites R
 * subjectio Providing a suggestion in answer to one's own question regarding how an argument should proceed. A Latin term for anthypophora
 * sustentatio R
 * syllepsis R
 * syllogismus The use of a remark or an image which calls upon the audience to draw an obvious conclusion. Like a rhetorical enthymeme, but more compact, and frequently relying on an image.
 * symperasma A conclusion that includes a brief summary of the foregoing.
 * symploce R
 * synaeresis P
 * synaloepha Omitting one of two vowels which occur together at the end of one word and the beginning of another. A contraction of neighboring syllables. A kind of metaplasm.
 * synathroesmus 1. The conglomeration of many words and expressions either with similar meaning (= synonymia) or not (= congeries). 2. A gathering together of things scattered throughout a speech (= accumulatio)
 * syncatabasis - See anthropopatheia
 * syncategorema - See anastrophe
 * synchoresis Conceding one point for the sake of another (=paromologia).
 * synchysis/synchysis R
 * syncope P
 * syncrisis Comparison and contrast in parallel clauses.
 * synecdoche R
 * synoeciosis A coupling or bringing together of contraries, but not in order to oppose them to one another
 * synesis/synesis
 * synonymia/synonymia R (Substitition)
 * synthesis R
 * syntheton When by convention two words are joined by a conjunction for emphasis.
 * synzeugma That kind of zeugma in which a verb joins (and governs) two phrases by coming between them. mesozeugma
 * systole P
 * systrophe The listing of many qualities or descriptions of someone or something, without providing an explicit definition.

T

 * tapinosis R semantics + ex
 * tasis P elocution
 * tautologia R presentation - see tautology
 * taxis R organization
 * thaumasmus R emotion + ex
 * tmesis P word + ex
 * topographia (attest?) (description of place)
 * topothesia (attest?) topographia of imaginary place)
 * traductio R:la
 * transitio - see metabasis
 * transplacement - see traductio; antanaclasis, antistasis.
 * tricolon R + ex

V

 * verborum bombus - see bomphiologia

Z

 * zeugma R ex-rt